Investigation number
AO-2016-036
Occurrence date
Location
Bunbury Airport
State
Western Australia
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation level
Short
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence type
Near collision
Occurrence category
Serious Incident
Highest injury level
None

What happened

On 15 April 2016, at about 1400 Western Standard Time (WST), the student pilot of a Piper PA-28-181 aircraft, registered VH-BYE (BYE), departed from Jandakot Airport on a solo navigation training flight to Bunbury Airport, Western Australia. At about 1500, when about 10 NM north of Bunbury Airport, the pilot broadcast on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) that they were inbound for a straight-in approach to runway 07.

At the time, a Cessna 152 aircraft, registered VH-CRP (CRP), was conducting circuit training at Bunbury Airport. On board CRP were an instructor and a student pilot. The active runway at Bunbury was 07, and the crew were broadcasting on the CTAF when on the downwind, base and final legs of the circuit.

The instructor of CRP heard the pilot of BYE broadcast inbound at 10 NM to the north. About 5 minutes later, the instructor heard the pilot of BYE broadcast they were joining a long final approach for a straight-in approach to runway 07. CRP was then on final approach for runway 07 and expected BYE to be behind them, but the pilots did not see BYE. The pilot of BYE heard the student pilot of CRP broadcast they were on final approach for runway 07, but also did not see the aircraft at that time.

After completing a touch-and-go landing, CRP was upwind of runway 07, at about 300 ft above ground level, when the student sighted an aircraft ahead and alerted the instructor. The instructor sighted BYE on a reciprocal track – on short final for runway 25, and took control of the aircraft from the student. The instructor of CRP took avoiding action, turning right, and BYE passed about 50 to 100 ft below and to their left.

When on final approach, at about 400 ft above ground level, the pilot of BYE sighted the numbers marked on the runway threshold, and realised they were approaching runway 25 instead of 07. At the same time, the pilot saw CRP pass to their left. The pilot of BYE conducted a slight right turn and commenced a climb to 1,500 ft.

After the incident, both aircraft landed on runway 07.

Pilot comments – pilot of VH-BYE

This was the pilot’s first solo navigation exercise. The pilot had done one touch-and-go at Bunbury about 4 weeks prior to the incident. The pilot had a briefing with their instructor prior to departing Jandakot, and discussed options for joining the circuit at Bunbury. The pilot had initially intended to join on the downwind leg of the circuit for runway 07, and could not recall why they amended the plan to make a straight-in approach.

ATSB comment

Pilots are encouraged to carefully consider options for joining the circuit during operations at non-towered aerodromes. With respect to straight-in approaches, Airservices Australia Aeronautical Information Package En Route 1.1 – 49.6 Straight-in Approach stated that ‘Straight-in approaches, whilst not prohibited, are not a recommended standard procedure’.

Straight-in approaches often limit the opportunity for a pilot to sight other circuit traffic, and join the circuit in a manner that avoids inconveniencing other traffic. Importantly, straight-in approaches also limit the opportunity for a pilot to effectively assess the aerodrome conditions and the status of movement areas, and identify any unexpected hazards.

Safety message

Following receipt of a broadcast from another aircraft in the vicinity, pilots should carefully assess the significance of the information in the context of their own intentions. In the event that potentially conflicting traffic cannot be visually identified, pilots should communicate accordingly and adopt a conservative course of action.

This incident highlights the importance of thorough pre-flight planning and preparation. The Flight planning kit – always thinking ahead, available from CASA’s online store, can assist pilots in preparing for flight.

Aviation Short Investigations Bulletin - Issue 51

Purpose of safety investigations

The objective of a safety investigation is to enhance transport safety. This is done through:

  • identifying safety issues and facilitating safety action to address those issues
  • providing information about occurrences and their associated safety factors to facilitate learning within the transport industry.

It is not a function of the ATSB to apportion blame or provide a means for determining liability. At the same time, an investigation report must include factual material of sufficient weight to support the analysis and findings. At all times the ATSB endeavours to balance the use of material that could imply adverse comment with the need to properly explain what happened, and why, in a fair and unbiased manner. The ATSB does not investigate for the purpose of taking administrative, regulatory or criminal action.

Terminology

An explanation of terminology used in ATSB investigation reports is available here. This includes terms such as occurrence, contributing factor, other factor that increased risk, and safety issue.

Publishing information 

Released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003

Published by: Australian Transport Safety Bureau

© Commonwealth of Australia 2016

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Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Cessna Aircraft Company
Model
152
Registration
VH-CRP
Serial number
15283363
Operation type
Flying Training
Sector
Piston
Departure point
Bunbury, WA
Destination
Bunbury, WA
Damage
Nil
Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft Corp
Model
PA-28-181
Registration
VH-BYE
Serial number
28-7790582
Operation type
Flying Training
Sector
Piston
Destination
Bunbury WA
Damage
Nil